Super Simple Non-Religious Ceremony Script

Introduction
Welcome everyone. What a beautiful evening and location to celebrate Eva and Brendon. For those of you asking “who’s this guy?,” I’m David (though Eva will insist my name is Dave). Eva and I met on the very first day of orientation at NYU. We in the lobby of our dorm room through her suite-mate, someone I knew from home, and walked over to orientation together. We did the usual small talk, looking for ways to keep the conversation going. It wasn’t until one of us said “man, everyone looks so familiar because of that look book the school sent in the mail.” We quickly started joking about the funny headshots of people under trees, in fields, somewhere on a cliff in New England…FINALLY something we could bond over honestly. It was at the end of the orientation introduction when the speaker said, “the person sitting next to you might be your friend for the rest of your life.” Now, 13 years later, I’m officiating the wedding of two of my closest friends.

On to why we’re here. Eva and Brendon. A couple truly devoted to each other, their friends & friends, and the overall global community. I think the moment for me, and probably many of you, when I realized that this was a perfect fit is when I heard of the time Eva waited in line with Brendon, over night, for a new video game. That was coupled with knowing that Brendon was able to live with a girl who loves Four Weddings on TLC as much as Dateline as well as finding any excuse to be at Barney’s.

SONG

We all know this wouldn’t be an Erlich/Gottleib affair without a little performance. Brendon, you have some big shoes to fill to keep this tradition going. Let’s welcome Eva’s sister Sonia and Uncles Sid and Lou to perform Emeli (Emily) Sande’s “Where I Sleep.”

THEY PERFORM

Thank you. One lyric the sticks out the most to the couple is “I’m sure of nothing that I know, except that this is us, and this love, and this is where I’m home.” This perfectly sums up Brendon and Eva’s relationship, demonstrating that they are what each other needs and when together the rest of the world fades away.

READING

Next up, Mariana will read an excerpt from The Dispossessed by Ursula K Le Guin. A utopian sci-fi novel that I attempted to look up on Wikipedia but the entry was a tad too long and confusing. I’m told that it centers around the relationship between two people: Takver and Shevek. In the reading the two meet while on a hike with a group of friends. As the group splits up to explore, both Takver and Shevek go solo and bump into each other in the woods. Mariana….

MARIANA READS
Thank you Mariana. Brendon and Eva choose this passage as it articulates the love they share and further speaks to this notion that when together they feel complete and whole.

ORATION
I asked the couple how they knew each other was “the one.” Both of them said, “early on” and “at different moments.” Brendon couldn’t put his finger on exactly when, but knew in the first couple of months of dating that there was something there and even told his sister Sam that if he couldn’t make it work with Eva, then he definitely couldn’t make it work with anyone.

For Eva, it was after their first break up (“waaaaay the hell back when,” as she so delicately put it. When it happened, she was so unexpectedly upset. She realized that Brendon wasn’t just another guy, but someone she shared a special bond with and hated when they weren’t together.

If you ask Brendon for a few words or thoughts that he thinks best describes Eva, he will tell you that Eva has no dark side. She doesn’t keep any inner-dark secrets or desires, whatever she thinks she says; she goes for it. There is no inner selfish being and he found that truly amazing and a quality he knew he needed in a partner.

Eva spoke about Brendon’s trustworthiness, his caring and supportive nature, that he’s punctual and reminds her of that constantly, and, most importantly, that he laughs at her jokes. She knows he’s always her number one fan and supporter, which makes her that much more comfortable and confident in her everyday life.

Brendon looks forward to sharing their lives together as true partners. Eva echoes that statement as she’s most excited to keep living their lives and having adventures together.

Before we get to the formalities, I want to end on these few words. When I first agreed to lead today’s celebration, I let the couple know that I was determined to find a Mariah Carey quote on love and challenge myself to find one from a video game. Something to best represent each half of this wonderful pair.

This might be a stretch, but let’s conclude this part of the ceremony with some wisdom on love from the greats.

“It is something that grows over time… a true friendship. A feeling in the heart that becomes even stronger over time… The passion of friendship will soon blossom into a righteous power.”
-Sheik from the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina (ah-cah-rin-a) of Time

“I need someone to hold on to
The kind of love that won’t fly away
I just want someone to belong to
Everyday
Of my life
Always.”
-Dream lover, Mariah Carey

Ok, now let’s get down to business and make this official.

VOWS

Brendon and Eva will now exchange their vows and commitments to each other.

First Brendon
I take you as you are, loving who you are now and who are yet to become. I promise to listen and learn from you, to support you and accept your support. I will celebrate your triumphs and mourn your losses as though they were my own. I will love you and have faith in your love for me, through all our years and all that life may bring us.

Second Eva
I take you as you are, loving who you are now and who are yet to become. I promise to listen and learn from you, to support you and accept your support. I will celebrate your triumphs and mourn your losses as though they were my own. I will love you and have faith in your love for me, through all our years and all that life may bring us.

Rings/Intent

Matt, may we have the rings?

Brendon, please place Eva’s ring on her finger.

“Do you take Eva as your wife, in front of these witnesses, and promise to stay by her side through sickness and health, joy and sorrow, so long as you both shall live?”

BRENDON ANSWERS: I DO

Eva, please place Brendon’s ring on his finger.

“Do you take Brendon as your husband, in front of these witnesses, and promise to stay by his side through sickness and health, joy and sorrow, so long as you both shall live?”

EVA ANSWERS: I DO

Pronouncement/Kiss

By the power vested in my, by the Universal Life Church and by the state of Rhode Island, I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may kiss the bride!

CROWD CHEERS AND GOES WILD!!!!

Presentation

Friends, I’m honored to pronounce to you, as the first time as husband and wife, Brendon and Eva!!!